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How dog-friendly is Toronto?

This city likes its canines, owners agree, but doesn't love them quite like Paris.

Sue Jamieson and Trinket, her 2-year-old Cavelier King Charles Spaniel, grab some lunch in the pet-friendly cafe at PAWSWAY Pet Centre on Queens Quay. In Toronto, dogs are routinely banished from eateries with table service, even outdoor patios, whereas well-behaved pooches are welcomed in Parisian restaurants. (Colin McConnell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

By Alyshah HashamStaff Reporter

Mon., Nov. 5, 2012

Toronto is often at odds with her dog owners.

Why, in a deserted schoolyard at 11 p.m., can a pooch not be let off the leash?

Why, on a sultry summer’s day, can a dog not rest at his owner’s feet in the shade of a patio table as both enjoy cool beverages?

Why are pet owners treated like smokers by potential landlords?

The gripes of the city’s dog owners are many. But, overall, they say Toronto is definitely a dog-friendly place to live — even before Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong’s proposal last week to open all parks to off-leash dog use between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

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Many things must be considered when looking at what makes a city dog-friendly: the number of off-leash dog parks, how dogs are treated in public spaces, transport options, and availability of important services such as grooming and vet care.

For Susan Rupert, the owner of Urban Dog Fitness and Spa, it’s an issue that dogs aren’t permitted in restaurants. She speaks longingly of Europe, where in, say, Paris, a city of stellar dog-loving repute, it’s the norm to allow pooches into restaurants, bistros and cafés.

“We have laws that say dogs need to have their vaccinations and need to be healthy. So there is really no need for (safety) concerns. As long as they are kept away from food preparation areas, I don’t see the issue,” she said. Rupert, who admits to including her dog as part of her family, says it’s the same as allowing children into restaurants. Well-behaved dogs can be far less disruptive, she says.

In Vancouver, eateries can legally allow leashed dogs to sit with their owners on patios and terraces — as long as they are well-behaved. Last month in Calgary, the city’s first pooch-friendly patio was cleared by Alberta Heath Services.

Toronto does have one pet-friendly eatery: William’s Fresh Café, at the Queens Quay pet learning and events centre PawsWay, has a double gate that separates the food preparation and serving area from the pet-permitted seating area.

But as Toronto food safety manager Jim Chan notes, you have to jump through a number of hoops to meet the Ontario food safety regulations when it comes to live animals. Anywhere — even a patio — that provides table service is automatically off-limits. The PawsWays café is actually licensed as a takeout place, and can only use disposable plates and utensils.

But on the plus side, Rupert notes that hotels in the city are known to be dog-friendly.

Another pro: pets are allowed to use the TTC in off-peak hours.

It would be even better if we had enough transit that it could be open to dogs at peak times, says Zana Ellis, manager of intake and adoption services at the Toronto Humane Society. It would certainly help people travelling to the Humane Society who can’t afford a taxi.

Speaking as a dog owner, Ellis says some neighbourhoods, such as the Beach and Riverdale, are more dog-friendly than others. The same goes for stores: Some, such as Home Depot, do not allow pets, while Ellis says she has never had a problem at Indigo.

“We’re not nearly as progressive as we should be,” she said. “I feel like we’re getting there; there are a lot of dog places now — green spaces, doggy spas. . . . People seem to be spending more money on their pets at this time. So you’d think as value goes up, it wouldn’t be a big deal to take your dog into more stores.”

What she finds most surprising is that people still fail to ask if it’s OK before petting her dog. “You’d think with (Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan) and all the dog shows on, people would know.”

One problem the Humane Society faces in adopting dogs out is landlords who don’t want to rent to pet owners.

Real estate lawyer and author Mark Weisleder agrees that is a problem. “Owners are concerned about the damage a dog could do,” he said. “It’s tough. You can see both sides to this. But tenants do have the advantage: even if they agreed not to bring a pet and they brought one anyway, they can’t be evicted.”

Landlords cannot legally evict a tenant for owning a pet, even if a clause in the lease stipulates that no pets are allowed — unless the pet bothers another tenant, it’s dangerous or causes damage, he said. The exception is when a condominium declaration stipulates no pets.

To Robert Meerburg, an education officer at Toronto Animal Services, it’s clear that Toronto is one of the most dog-friendly places around.

“We’re a leader in dog-related events. We have Woofstock, Winter Woofstock, we have all the small community events that go on — Slobberfest. We have the Chip Truck for the microchip events that go on.”

Meerburg, who initiated the city’s dog education and dog-bite prevention program in 1990, sees an immense change since then.

“People are more informed when adopting animals,” he says. They consider their lifestyle. “They don’t just go to an Animal Centre and say, ‘That’s the dog I want.’”

Tre Smith, the events and education manager at PawsWay, suggests Toronto could take a step that would knock Paris from its canine-loving pedestal and allow dogs in the workplace.

After allowing for conduct and allergy issues, dogs can make an office a “less-stressful environment, and more welcoming,” he said.

“People want to include pets in their daily lives and daily routines, and I think if we as a city can facilitate that, the more we will see pet ownership increase.”

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